Girls basketball: CdM girls seek cross-town respect

Barry Faulkner

Heading into the second round of Pacific Coast League play, the

Corona del Mar High girls basketball team is second to none in the

five-team circuit. However, entering Saturday’s 6 p.m. nonleague clash

with visiting Newport Harbor, Coach Elbert Davis’ squad has been second

fiddle in the Back Bay since 1990.

But Newport Harbor’s 18-game winning streak in the Back Bay series

appears to be in grave jeopardy, as the Sea Kings ready to make the

Sailors their third Newport-Mesa District victim this season.

CdM stretched its list of victims to 17 by handling nonleague host Santa

Ana Tuesday, and the Sea Kings figure to make it 18 against winless

Laguna Beach, when PCL action resumes Thursday.

But it’s the Sailors (4-16 after Tuesday’s nonleague win over Ocean View)

who have drawn the circle on CdM’s schedule this week.

Davis and his players have spoken all season about their desire to earn

respect for their program. And, ending Harbor’s extended bragging rights

is yet another obstacle in that pursuit.

Respect was denied the unranked Sea Kings in the latest section coaches’

poll, where Costa Mesa, which CdM trounced, 64-31 Thursday, remains No. 6

in Division III-AA.

Meanwhile, Costa Mesa engages cross-town rival Estancia Thursday at home,

attempting to remain within striking distance of CdM and lengthen its

winning streak against the Eagles to six.

Mesa has defeated Estancia eight of the last nine meetings and 14 of the

last 18, but the Mustangs have lost two straight after winning 10 of

their previous 11.

Since earning a 28-23 lead two minutes into the third quarter against

CdM, the Mustangs have been outscored, 122-48, in nearly six quarters,

including Saturday’s nonleague loss to Westminster.

This discrepancy has a great deal to do with the health of returning

All-CIF guards Nancy Hatsushi and Jenny Earnest.

Hatsushi, second in Orange County with 6.8 assists per game, missed the

final 12 minutes against CdM with leg cramps. The junior then sat out the

Westminster game.

Earnest, a senior, played through illness against CdM, finishing with a

season-low four points. She did not play against Westminster.

Both are expected back Thursday.

Estancia, coming off wins last week against Saddleback and University,

would join Mesa in second place with a victory Thursday. If the Eagles

defeat the Mustangs by 12 points, Estancia would claim the perpetual Lady

Bell trophy which goes to the annual series winner. The winner of the

series also earns a postgame feast at the Newport Rib Company.